And Martina had to wear a Perspex helmet filled with bugs and snakes. The challenges won the final three a candlelit three-course banquet with champagne to celebrate their last day in the Australian jungle.

William Hill said punters had flooded them with bets in the final hours before the vote. One viewer put £5000 on Joe to win at 1-8.

Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams said: "We have lost a small fortune but Joe is a worthy winner and I expect to see him in panto soon."

Joe, who played market dealer Mickey Miller in EastEnders, quickly became pals with the others in the I'm A Celebrity camp.

He got particularly close to George and the pair had frequent full-frontal kisses.

Joe was also a confidante of Esther Rantzen.

He showered the 68-year-old former That's Life presenter with praise after she looked in the mirror and said: "What a fright."